“So long everyone knew that I am a freedom fighter. According to new definition I shall no more be considered as a freedom fighter. This can not be acceptable. This is against dignity. As a result, I shall have no way but to commit suicide.” Basail Thana freedom fighter commander of Tangail district Bazlur Rahman expressed such reaction after receiving the news of new definition of freedom fighters. Bazlur Rahman said at the time of Liberation War he was an adolescent of about 16 years of age. At that time he was a student of Tangail Korotia School. After the liberation his age was reduced to 14 years quota for registration to appear at S.S.C. (Metric) examination. As a result, in paper his age stood under thirteen years in 1971. He said now, if the new definition is executed he can not continue as a freedom fighter. 13 years old boy Lalu, a member of Kaderia Bahini of Tangail, directly participated in the Liberation War in 1971 and surrendered arms to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At that time, along with Lalu, hundreds of adolescent boys participated in the war against Pakistani army. That 13 years old Lalu is now a freedom fighter having the title of ‘Bir Protik’. But according to the new definition that title winning freedom fighter Lalu and all others of his age will be excluded from the list of freedom fighters. Investigations revealed that at least 17 thousand members of Kaderia Bahini participated in Liberation War under the leadership of Banga Bir Kader Siddique of Tangail. About half of them were of the age between 15 to 18 years. But the age of the students was shown reduced from the school. Now the criteria of their age is that mentioned by the head master of the school. Besides those who are not in any service now, have taken government birth certificates and deposited to different places. According to the decision of the Liberation War affairs ministry those who took freedom fighter certificates during the last twelve years also will have to appear before the scrutiny committee at the grassroots level. In the new applications also it will have to be shown that the applicant’s age was at least 15 years in 1971. Investigation further reveled that 25 to 30 per cent real freedom fighters who are now in government service will be excluded from the list of freedom fighters. But in several writ petitions filed by Mujib Nagar Government Employees adolescent freedom fighters were given recognition in 1997. The story of their contribution came up again and again in the judgment. Freedom fighters feel that the redefining of the definition of freedom fighters will also dishonor the verdict of the Higher Court. The appellate division of the Supreme Court also pronounced similar type of verdict afterwards. A question has been raised as to why the government is going to reset age limit for a person to be qualified as freedom fighter. Various freedom fighters said there was age limit for joining police, BGB and other services of the government. There was no such provision for joining Liberation War in 1971. The freedom fighters expressed deep concern over fixation of age long years after the Liberation War. They are curious to know the real reasons behind the decision. Delwar Hossain Razib, joint secretary of Muktijoddha Sansad Central Command Council, said he was around 16 years at the time of Liberation War. But the schoolteachers showed him to be 14 years old at the time of SSC examination registration. He is doing job in the Bangladesh Bank now. “Responding to the call of Bangabandhu, we participated in the liberation war at the risk of life. Our names are included in the national list of freedom fighters and Muktibarta. We have certificate. Our names are included in the gazette. Will our names be dropped from the upcoming list? It is not acceptable.” Before setting a definition for the freedom fighters, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry started to disqualify the persons to be a freedom fighter if they were not 15 years old in 1971. Even the previously issued certificates are being cancelled on this consideration. Officials at the ministry concerned said there was an unwritten parameter of 13 years taking the case of youth freedom fighter Lalu as its basis. After receiving an instruction from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the ministry has moved to redefine the age. On February 2 this year, the ministry concerned cancelled the certificate of Bagerhat Sub-Registrar office staff Jogobandhu Biswas. About the reason for such decision, the ministry said he cannot be considered as a freedom fighter for not being 13 years old in 1971. Certificates of many others were cancelled on the age ground. The Liberation War Affairs Ministry has redefined the age flouting the order of the High Court. The four-party alliance led by BNP terminated Mujibnagar employees appointed in 1972. After assumption of power by Awami League in 1996, the PMO recommended to reinstate the employees. But their appointment process was being delayed. In 1997, six employees who were 8-10 years old at the time of liberation war filed a petition to the HC seeking appointment. On July 1, 1997, HC passed an order saying the Mujibnagar employees were youth but they supplied information to the Mujibnagar government. The employees also provided the freedom fighters with foods. They also guarded the arms and ammunitions and extended other kinds of helps. The Pakistani occupation forces overlooked them thinking to be minor. The HC also said eligibility of Mijubnagar employees cannot be questioned on the ground of their minor age. Those who filed the writ include Md Abdul Kuddus Hawlader, Md Salim Mallik, Abu Taleb Mia, Abul Bashar Hawlader, Selim Hawlader and Abdur Rahim. The HC passed similar observation in some other writs filed over the issue of Mujibnagar employees. Later, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the HC verdict. Many freedom fighters have decided to go to the court. Muktijoddha Unit Command Council was formed in the secretariat after 43 years of the Liberation War. High-level 171 officials even DG of Prime Minister’s Office Dr Mahmudur Rahman have been included in Freedom Fighter’s list. These government officials declaring themselves as freedom fighters had joined the government service through PSC and still they are in service. Requesting anonymity, an official under this command said that they are taking preparation to go for higher court challenging the new definition. They already talked to a number of senior lawyers about the issue and they will go to court within one or two days because due to new definition, among the 171 officials some 85 percent government officials will be excluded from freedom fighters’ list which will create risk in their service. Freedom fighters said that government may take a decision with contacting field level freedom fighters across the country because the government is interested to initiate a new law. There are many commanders of freedom fighters who took part in war of liberation at the age of 13 to 14 years though they were fit physically. Now their names will be dropped from the list. AKM Mozzammel Haque, Minister for Liberation War Affairs told this correspondent, “We requested all freedom fighters of upazila level across the country who received government certificate for the last 12 years to appear before the scrutiny committee for proving reality. The local MP will be the convener of the upazila level scrutiny committee if he is a freedom fighter or commander of the FFs will be the convener of the committee. Besides, representatives of the concerned ministry will be included to the committee and a commander during the liberation war and all local freedom fighters. The scrutiny committee, consisting of the seven-member will send a list of genuine freedom fighters to the ministry based on witness. But the gazette notification issued by the Liberation War Affairs Ministry on September 24 last said that it is mandatory to all gazette freedom fighters to face the scrutiny committee besides Indian listed, Lal Muktibarta and certificate holders freedom fighters signed by Prime Minister. Ministry sources said that according to last report, at present there are 1,80,000 gazetted freedom fighters in the country. More than 1,04000 FFs applied for certificate for the last one year. All should appear before the new scrutiny committee. The source also said that the ministry of Liberation War Affairs could not determine the FFs after 43 years of the independence. There is dispute over the new definition.
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